RE-ENGINEERED: The new first-year program

In RE-ENGINEERED, your first-year classes will be shorter and more intensive so you can learn a broader range of material. These essential skills will form the strong foundation you need for the rest of your degree.

* These are elective courses. You'll have a number of courses to choose between.

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program. 

• Course and Program Catalogue

Here are just a few of the classes you might take while you complete this degree:

PHYS 252: Foundations of Modern Physics
Introduces Special Relativity and the foundations of quantum mechanics. Topics in relativity include Lorentz transformations, time dilation, length contraction, space-time diagrams, relativistic addition of velocities, and the relativistic definitions of energy and momentum. Topics in Quantum Mechanics include quantization of energy levels, wave-particle duality, and the tunnel effect.

EP 325: Optical Systems Design
This class provides the foundation of geometrical optics for the understanding of complex optics in optical instruments. Topics include image formation, curved optical surfaces, thin and thick lenses, cardinal points and Gaussian optics, apertures, paraxial ray tracing, matrix methods, Fermat's principle and third-order aberrations. Classical instrumentation design is studied including Newtonian and Cassegrain telescopes, astronomical cameras and compound systems. The class concludes with an introduction to ray tracing methods with software packages and techniques for design with realistic computationally difficult problems.

EP 440: Space Systems Design
This course takes the students through the entire process of designing and implementing a real space based mission. Space based missions include satellites, rockets, and balloons. Emphasis is placed on satellite missions and the design of subsystems to meet mission requirements and specifications. Also included is a detailed discussion of orbital mechanics, spacecraft attitude and pointing, spacecraft propulsion and the launch vehicles required to place the spacecraft into the desired orbit.

This program enriches you with analytical skills of mathematics and scientific reasoning, technical skills of design, construction and operation of systems including nanotechnology, space instrumentation, particle accelerators and more. You will develop leadership skills as engineering physicists are called to manage projects involving electrical, mechanical or chemical components and tasks. Engineering physicists tend to be versatile and adaptable to projects as they evolve.

• The Department of Physics and Engineering Physics is fully accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board.
• Our outstanding faculty members work hard to give you the best education possible in engineering physics.
• Your training in engineering physics will give you a special blend of thorough and practical skills that will make you employable in a wide range of careers.
• You will study principles and design of electronics, energy, optics and lasers, radiation and materials. You’ll be exposed to the modern physics of relativity and quantum mechanics.
• The U of S is home to the Canadian Light Source synchrotron, Canada’s biggest scientific research project in more than 30 years. The synchrotron is the only facility in Canada using synchrotron light for research and is the fourth most powerful synchrotron in the world.
• Our program has specializations in areas such as atmospheric and space science, material science and engineering, nuclear energy and plasma science. Students can also work on other specializations with approval from the department.